Time to change tack on how we view ageing

Lower birth rates and lower death rates are resulting in our population becoming increasingly older in number and in age. More people are living in their nineties and reaching over 100 years.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution has arrived and technologies linked to ageing are changing our world.

SUPA-NZ’s Strategic Consultant Carole Gordon says there is so much to talk about ageing.

“This is no new statistic but this demographic change has been unfortunately portrayed as a tsunami of sad, unwell, unhappy elderly golden-agers.

“The reality is that more people in their seventies, eighties and nineties are not tired and worn out with limited abilities, but active citizens wanting to continue working, wanting to continue with their sports, wanting to participate in their communities, wanting to travel, wanting to live longer.

“Purposeful and meaningful ageing is what people today want.

“It’s time to optimize abilities, the work place, housing, transport, technology, health and social care, business and communities.

“Everyone ages, but today people want to live longer. They want to look at a life that is longer, purposeful and meaningful.

“We’re planning a programme that will be thought provoking and informative and will provide an insightful dialogue among Pakeke, kaumatua, matua, mature and older people, social agencies, thought leaders, policy makers and educators, as we discuss how we take on this forever changed phenomena, of global ageing and turn it into an opportunity story?

The Bay of Plenty District Health Board and Tauranga City Council are important collaborative partners in this event along with Bay Waka, and Socialink.

The Leading Edge event will be held at Mount Club on October 15th from 9.30am to 4pm.
Registrations are open now on ww.eventspronto.co.nz/successful-ageing

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